It’s that time of the year again—TIME Magazine has just released the final contender of its annual “Person of the Year”. Amongst notable figures in politics, human rights activists, presidents, businessmen, and influential leaders around the world, Pope Francis has been awarded the remarkable title. “He really stood out to us as someone who has changed the tone and perception and the focus of one of the world’s largest institutions in an extraordinary way,” explains Nancy Gibbs, TIME’s managing editor. Many people, both Christians and non-Christians, seem to agree. From the minute the pope stepped out onto the balcony in St. Peter’s Basilica that March 13th night in plain white robes, and greeted the public with a simple “good evening,” it was evident he was different from the rest.
Being the first pope in history to come from the New World (South America), own a Twitter account, and take selfies with his teenage followers (and these are just a few of his unique acts), he is certainly changing the perception and image of the parish. In just his nine months as leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has led with many examples of modesty and acceptance, and is definitely on the road to reforming the traditional ways of the church. When it came to his attention that his followers had built a life-size statue of him in the Buenos Aires cathedral, he immediately ordered the thing be taken down. Instead of the lavish and custom-built cars favored by his predecessors, Pope Francis drives a 2008 Ford Focus Hatchback. At the Vatican, the seventy-six year old insisted on carrying his luggage and paying his hotel bill, which he actually chose to stay in instead of the luxurious quarters available to him. Reporters who have met the pope agree that it was not a didactic and formal occasion, but rather an easygoing, familiar, and friendly gathering. One even says he chatted about his favorite artists, composers, and painters. Pope Francis has been setting inspiring examples for not just Catholics, but people of all beliefs around the world. He reminded those at the Vatican City of their obligation to care for the powerless, and has made genuine gestures like calling those who sent him letters and embracing the younger children and sick people in the crowds. He is the first ever pope to wash a woman’s feet, and has also washed the feet of men, prisoners, handicapped, and people of all religions. After urging Christians and Muslims to promote mutual respect toward one another, Pope Francis sent greetings to Muslims worldwide who were celebrating the end of Ramadan. Our pope urges the members of all religions and even non-believers to recognize their joint responsibility to our world, which we have to love and protect.
“We must do much for the good of the poorest, the weak, and those who are suffering, to favor justice, promote reconciliation, and built peace.” He seems to be focusing on the true message of religion and helping others. Some argue that the Catholic Church is in serious need of reformation and modernization, while many believers have been losing touch with their faith. Pope Francis seems to be giving them hope in remarkable ways with his refreshing views on many societal issues so different from those of previous popes. He incredibly expresses that he doesn’t want the church to be locked up in “small minded rules” and be so quick to condemn.
The Catholic Church is often criticized for its traditional views on homosexuality, women, abortion, contraception, and divorce; however, the pope says they must find a new balance between upholding rules and demonstrating mercy. When asked about homosexuality, the pope asked, “Who am I to judge?”, which is an extraordinary step forward for Catholics. This is a revolutionary change from the previous tone of the church and past popes, such as Pope Benedict XVI, who believed homosexuality was a “strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil,” and that men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies should not become priests.” Pope Francis, however, does not want gays to feel “socially wounded,” as they wrote to him in letters, and does not condemn a gay man to be a priest if searches for the Lord and has good will. Additionally, while Pope John Paul II had definitively closed the door to females becoming priests, Pope Francis seeks a greater role for them in Catholic life. He has said that the Catholic Church needs to shake off their obsession with subjects like abortion, contraception, and homosexuality, and become more merciful; for it is risking collapsing its moral edifice, “like a house of cards”.
The new pope, dubbed “The People’s Pope”, is no doubt changing the tone of the Catholic Church, which some argue is needed desperately. Many are thankful to have a new pope that is on the way to reforming the church’s ways, supporting TIME’s decision to name him “Person of the Year”. Everyone has differing opinions, and no one will ever be chosen that is not controversial—for without stirring controversy, one can never make a difference in the world.
Julie, thank you for posting your quioetsn and response. This has been something that I have been struggling with as well. On one hand I know that the Church sees marriage as joining of 2 souls to become 1 with one of the main focus of that marriage is to have children. On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with being able to designate someone you love as being able to make medical decisions for you if you are unable, ability to avoid estate taxes when a person you lived with for 30 years passes away or have someone you can confide in. With the way the laws are set up the only way to achieve this is through marriage (unless you can afford a lawyer to prepare legal documents and this will only take care of some of these issues). The Church is not against love. It isn’t against two people of the same sex living a life together. What it is against is sex between two men or two women because that type of sex is not capable of producing children. So the way I see it is there are really 2 separate issues here that people are confusing as one. The Church is arguing that marriage between 2 men or 2 women is not right in God’s eyes because no children can come of that marriage. Don’t forget we refer to God as Our Father and Mary as Blessed Mother. The gay right movement is focused on the legal benefits of marriage. Being able to visit a partner in the hospital, avoiding tax penalties, provide health insurance to someone they love. I personally believe the gay right movement focusing on marriage and not civil unions is because they feel they would not be treated equally (it would be like a second class marriage). I do see the argument for this. We know how the south was segregated for so many years and how separate but equal was not truly equal. To me the real way to solve this to provide an easy way for someone to designate another that they would like to have the legal ability to make decisions (health, legal or otherwise), ability to designate one person (other then one’s children) that they would like to add to their health care plan, and the right to provide the house 2 people have shared for years to avoid being taxed outrageously when the other person passes. To me this would be more inline with what Jesus would be in favor of. Don’t forget that Jesus told John to take care of Mary after He rose from the dead. In our current legal and health system, John would not have been able to visit Mary if she was in the hospital or make legal decisions if she was not able to do so. I personally don’t think that is what Jesus would have wanted and we should look for a way to provide the benefits that have been attached to those that are married in the government eyes to those that do not fit into the one man/one women marriage role, but to those that are single and want to select their best friend of 20 years or two men or two women that chose to share a life together. As Catholics, we need to stop believing that the best way to stop sin is through the legal system and start looking for ways to support and truly show love to one another.
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